Ethernet SSD OSD Integration for Lower-Power Ceph Storage

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Solution Overview

Problem

The Ceph system, a unified distributed storage system, faces high space, hardware, and power costs due to its reliance on X86 CPUs, which result in low hardware utilization and inefficient data storage.

Innovation Solution

Implementing an Object Storage Device (OSD) using an Ethernet SSD with an embedded ARM CPU to reduce costs by reducing power consumption and space requirements, while maintaining high hardware utilization.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If X86 CPU-based servers are used to implement OSD nodes, then the system can execute OSD Daemons and perform data storage operations, but the space cost, hardware cost, and power cost increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata storage reliabilityVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the OSD functionality with the Ethernet SSD by embedding an ARM CPU directly into the SSD device. This integration allows the Ethernet SSD to execute OSD Daemons and perform data storage operations without requiring separate X86 CPU-based servers, thereby reducing power consumption while maintaining storage reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces expensive X86 CPU-based servers with more cost-effective and energy-efficient ARM CPU-based Ethernet SSDs. This substitution reduces hardware costs and power consumption while maintaining the necessary functionality for data storage operations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Adaptability or versatility

If X86 CPU-based servers are deployed in a cluster, then the distributed storage system can operate with multiple OSD nodes, but the deployment cost and space requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem scalabilityVSAvoiddeployment space

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple functions (OSD execution, data storage, and network communication) into a single Ethernet SSD device with an embedded ARM CPU. This integration allows the system to maintain scalability with multiple OSD nodes while significantly reducing the space required for deployment compared to using separate X86 servers for each node

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The Ethernet SSD with embedded ARM CPU serves multiple functions: it acts as a storage device, executes OSD Daemons for data management, and performs network communication. This multi-functionality allows the system to maintain versatility and scalability while reducing the overall deployment footprint

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If one OSD node executes only one OSD Daemon to ensure high reliability, then data storage reliability is improved, but the hardware utilization decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata storage reliabilityVSAvoidhardware utilization

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent integrates the OSD execution environment directly into the Ethernet SSD's embedded ARM CPU. This integration allows the device to execute OSD Daemons efficiently while maintaining the one-OSD-per-node reliability model, and the reduced form factor improves overall hardware utilization by eliminating the need for large X86 server infrastructure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS12450005B2Data storage method and device

Publication Date: 2025.10.21 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD

AI summary

A data storage method performed by at least one processor of an object storage device (OSD) of a storage system comprises receiving data from an external device through an Ethernet interface of an Ethernet solid state drive (SSD) of the OSD. The method further includes storing the received data in the Ethernet SSD.